Spokane River, Lake Coeur d’Alene rising to flood stage

The Spokane River and Lake Coeur d’Alene are expected to reach flood stage this weekend or early next week.

The cresting water levels come after heavy snow and rain in the region in recent months and a fast melt off at lower and middle elevations.

Tributaries to the lake reached flood stage this week and are filling the lake to capacity.

At least one more storm should arrive over the region on Friday night and Saturday, adding more water to the flood situation.

The excess runoff gets slowed some as it passes through the restrictions of the rock canyon at Post Falls, which has the effect of spreading out and prolonging the flood crest downstream.

Forecasters said the high water is not likely to cause many problems on the lake or the Spokane River.

The lakeshore may have some secondary roads covered. Boat wakes could send waves onto private property and against docks.

The flow at Spokane Falls should nearly double from 17,400 cubic feet per second on Wednesday to nearly 33,000 cfs next Wednesday.

That will turn the falls into a roiling, thundering attraction not seen since April 2012 when the river crested at a similar level.

Minor flooding problems could occur along Upriver Drive and the Centennial Trail northeast of Mission Avenue and Water Avenue in Peaceful Valley.

Officials caution people to stay back from high flows. The cold swift water is a drowning hazard.

Elsewhere, the Little Spokane River was predicted to reach minor flood stage on Thursday and then drop some before a new surge of water arrives early next week.

The Palouse River at Potlatch and Palouse went to a moderate flood stage on Wednesday and was expected to rise to major flooding on Thursday before subsiding on Friday

Also, the St. Joe River at St. Maries and Calder and the Coeur d’Alene River at Cataldo were flooding.

Cooler overnight lows this weekend could help slow down snow melt and allow smaller streams to continue dropping next week.

Highs in Spokane should be in the upper 40s to 50s through the weekend.